---
title: "Karen K. Gallagher | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-k-gallagher"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Karen K. Gallagher

Williams Co. Probate/Juvenile Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Williams Co. Probate/Juvenile Court
- State: Ohio
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing exhibits

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance tells courts to include instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses when remote-hearing information is sent to participants.

Evidence excerpt: Instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing ground rules

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance recommends advance ground rules for documents, exhibits, screen sharing, and pre-marking exhibits for remote hearings.

Evidence excerpt: Documents: Share any documents/exhibits that will be reviewed in advance. Use the share screen function while documents are being discussed during the hearing. Request that the documents are pre-marked for exhibit purposes.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance states that litigants, attorneys, and the public should be instructed not to record the hearing.

Evidence excerpt: The court should instruct the litigants, attorneys, and the public to not record the hearing.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Official roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Ohio Judicial Conference Directory official judicial roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- On December 31, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine appointed her as the probate and juvenile judge, and she officially assumed office on February 9, 2021

### Education

- Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and her J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law

### Additional information

- She held the role of a magistrate for the Williams County Common Pleas Court starting in May 2016.
- Practiced private law for over 30 years in northwest Ohio, including as owner of Gallagher & Gallagher, LLC in Bryan, Ohio.
- Judge Karen Gallagher oversees the Williams County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile and Probate Divisions
- handling a wide range of cases.
- In the Probate Division, she manages estates, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, wrongful death claims, and other civil matters.
- In the Juvenile Division, she presides over cases involving juvenile delinquency, abuse, neglect, dependency, truancy, juvenile traffic offenses, and parentage issues.
- Her appointment marked a historic milestone: she became the first woman in the 201-year history of Williams County to hold the gavel for the Probate and Juvenile Divisions.
- She won the seat unopposed in the November election to replace retiring Judge Steven R. Bird.